Evaluating user interface usability for task completion

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for tracking and presenting states of a user interface includes at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to track the visibility and usage of each of a plurality of areas of a user interface. The processor may be further configured to determine the navigation sequence through the plurality of areas of the user interface when utilized to complete a task. The processor may be configured to graphically present the visibility, usage, and determined navigation sequences on a display that includes a layout of the user interface, where the graphical presentation of the visibility, usage, and determined navigation sequences may be displayed within their corresponding areas of the layout of the user interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of tracking and presenting states of a user interface comprising:
 tracking visibility and usage of each of a plurality of areas of a user interface; 
 determining the visibility as a first percentage of time each area of the plurality of areas is visible; 
 determining the usage as a second percentage of time each area of the plurality of areas is in use; 
 determining one or more navigation sequences through the plurality of areas based on usage of the user interface; and 
 graphically presenting the visibility, usage, and determined navigation sequences on a display including a layout of the user interface, wherein the visibility of each of the plurality of areas are represented by a first shape disposed over each represented area, the usage of each of the plurality of areas are represented by a second shape disposed within the first shape for each represented area, the second shape differing from the first shape, and the determined navigation sequences are displayed as connections between each of the plurality of first shapes disposed over the navigated through areas. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the layout of the user interface includes the plurality of areas, and graphically presenting comprises:
 displaying the visibility and usage of the plurality of areas within corresponding areas of the layout. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein displaying the visibility and usage comprises:
 determining the visibility as an amount of time each corresponding area is visible; and 
 determining the usage as an amount of time each corresponding area is in use. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating reports that present the visibility amount for each corresponding area, the usage amount for each corresponding area, the connections between the graphical objects, and suggestions on how to improve the user interface. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of areas of the user interface include a banner, a title, and one or more panels. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a size of each first shape is based on a value of the first percentage and a size of each second shape is based on a value of the second percentage. 
     
     
       7. A system for conducting an activity among a plurality of participants comprising:
 at least one processor configured to: 
 track visibility and usage of each of a plurality of areas of a user interface; 
 determine the visibility as a first percentage of time each area of the plurality of areas is visible; 
 determine the usage as a second percentage of time each area of the plurality of areas is in use; 
 determine one or more navigation sequences through the plurality of areas based on usage of the user interface; and 
 graphically present the visibility, usage, and determined navigation sequences on a display including a layout of the user interface, wherein the visibility of each of the plurality of areas are represented by a first shape disposed over each represented area, the usage of each of the plurality of areas are represented by a second shape disposed within the first shape for each represented area, the second shape differing from the first shape, and the determined navigation sequences are displayed as connections between each of the plurality of first shapes disposed over the navigated through areas. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the layout of the user interface includes the plurality of areas, and where graphically presenting further comprises:
 displaying the visibility and usage of the plurality of areas within corresponding areas of the layout. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein displaying the visibility and usage further comprises:
 determining the visibility as an amount of time each corresponding area is visible; and 
 determining the usage as an amount of time each corresponding area is in use. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 generate reports that present the visibility amount for each corresponding area, the usage amount for each corresponding area, the connections between the graphical objects, and suggestions on how to improve the user interface. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of areas of the user interface include a banner, a title, and one or more panels. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein a size of each first shape is based on a value of the first percentage and a size of each second shape is based on a value of the second percentage. 
     
     
       13. A computer program product for tracking and presenting states of a user interface comprising:
 a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to: 
 track visibility and usage of each of a plurality of areas of a user interface; 
 determine the visibility as a first percentage of time each area of the plurality of areas is visible; 
 determine the usage as a second percentage of time each area of the plurality of areas is in use; 
 determine one or more navigation sequences through the plurality of areas based on usage of the user interface; and 
 graphically present the visibility, usage, and determined navigation sequences on a display including a layout of the user interface, wherein the visibility of each of the plurality of areas are represented by a first shape disposed over each represented area, the usage of each of the plurality of areas are represented by a second shape disposed within the first shape for each represented area, the second shape differing from the first shape, and the determined navigation sequences are displayed as connections between each of the plurality of first shapes disposed over the navigated through areas. 
 
     
     
       14. The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the layout of the user interface includes the plurality of areas, and graphically presenting further comprises:
 displaying the visibility and usage of the plurality of areas within corresponding areas of the layout. 
 
     
     
       15. The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein displaying the visibility and usage further comprises:
 determining the visibility as an amount of time each corresponding area is visible; and 
 determining the usage as an amount of time each corresponding area is in use. 
 
     
     
       16. The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of areas of the user interface include a banner, a title, and one or more panels. 
     
     
       17. The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein a size of each first shape is based on a value of the first percentage and a size of each second shape is based on a value of the second percentage.